Guardians of The Galaxy Director James Gunn Talks About Using Original Guardians Team

by Erik Amaya

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 expanded the cast of space characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to include the original Guardians from the comics. And it seems director James Gunn has plans for them going forward.

As originally presented, the Guardians of the Galaxy were a team from the 31st century engaged in a battle with the Baldoon. Their conflict made its way back to the 20th Century as heroes like Thor and Captain America aided their cause. Additionally, the Guardian known as Starhawk was fated to repeat his life again and again in hopes of altering the bleak future the Guardians called home.

While talking about his plans for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn told The Hollywood Reporter one element he won’t be using from the comic book’s original premise is the reliance on time travel. “That is not something that we’re dealing with,” he said. “These are older characters and more criminal than our Guardians. So we’re focusing on that.” The fact he already has a concept to focus on suggests the group — which includes Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord (Starhawk), Michael Rosenbaum as Galactic Guardians founder Martinex, Ving Rhames as Charlie-27, and Michelle Yeoh as Aleta Ogord — will continue on into the next Guardians film, which will also feature the Adam Warlock character in a prominent role.

Although, he told the site he reserves the right to make drastic changes to the character, much like the changes already incorporated into both Guardians teams. “I’ve changed a lot already from the comics with the Guardians. Groot’s personality in the first Guardians, which people loved, was nothing like his personality in the comics. He didn’t have that puppy dog innocence that we love about Groot. I don’t restraint myself in any way when it comes to using stuff from the comics or not using it.”

I’ll be honest, growing up as Johnny DC, hearing tell of the Marvel Universe’s cosmic corner made my eyes role back in my head. Ask me about the Khund invasions or the Sentinel Worlds and I’ll light up right quick. But Gunn made those strange and wonderful characters appealing and exciting. He also seems to come at it from a place of love and affection for Marvel’s space characters. So if it means a drastic alteration to Adam Warlock — a character I admit I’ve spent no time with — I imagine it will work out for the best.

Erik Amaya

Host of Tread Perilously and a Film/TV Writer at Comicon.com and Rotten Tomatoes. A former staff writer at CBR and Bleeding Cool, and a contributing writer at Fanbase Press and Monkeys Fighting Robots. Voice of Puppet Tommy on The Room Responds. A seeker of the Seastone Chair and the owner of a Legion Flight Ring. Sorted into Gryffindor, which came as some surprise.